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/MviERICAN 
MOTHERS 

OF 

NATIONAL 
DEFENDERS 




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Organized Feb. 13, 1918 



Copyrightp^,1918 



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American Motners ot National Usfenders 



Officers and Trustees 

Mrs. A. H. Strickland President 

Mrs. A. E. Singleton Vice-President 

Mrs P B. Pritchett Secretary 

Mrs. L. J. Rogers Treasurer 

Mrs. R.J. Lawrence Historian 

Mrs. L. K. Perry Registrar 

Mrs. C. G, Stovall 1 Year 

Mrs. C. C. Bates -_._2 Years 

Mrs. C. M. Franklin 3 Years 



StP. I3!91b 



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CONSTITUTIONS AND BY-LAWS 

OF THE 

AMERICAN MOTHER'S OF NATIONAL 
DEFENDERS 

Adopted March 12, 1918 

ARTICLE ONE— NAME 

This organization shall be known as 
American Mothers of National Defenders. 

ARTICLE TWO— OBJECT 

The object shall be the organization 
of duly constitnted membeis consisting of 
mothers, wives, sisters and daughters of 
soldiers and sailors who served under the 
flag of the United States during the 
world wide war Avhich Vv^e entered 4-6- 
1917. In order th:.t v:^ may (] ) erect suita- 
ble m,onuments and historical tablets com- 
]»emorative of heroes and heroic actions, 
(2) encouraige studies and reasearches into 
the cause of the war, effects and modes 
of warfare: (3) obtr.in and preserve a 
record of the service of each individual 
soldier and sailor connected with our 
chapter: (4) Drom,ote constructive pat- 
riotism and historical knowledge of our 
country: (5) encourage and extend 
mutual symDathy to those in breaveraent 
thi-ough loss of i-elatives in the v:ar; (6) 



P: 



'J 

and in general to promote an/l expanded 
degree of mutual service ampng our 
members through cooperation, mutual 
suggestions, conferences and public 
meetings. 

ARTICLE THREE— MEMBERSHIP 

Duly legalized relatives of American 
citizens who fought under the United 
States and allied flags are elligible to 
membership, provided adequate proof of 
service and honorable discharge is given 
of same. The applicant must be over 18 
vears of age, and an American citizen. 
The name of applicant must be presented 
to the chapter, voted on and accepted by 
3-4 of members present: ai>nlication blank 
vill be given them to fill oui;, return 
to the rfegistrar, to b^ examined and sign- 
ed by the committee on credentials. 

section Two( of article three) 

Only members of t],e Cancnssian 
race are elligible for inembership. 

ARTICLE FOUR— OFFICRES 

The officers shall consist of Presi- 
ilent. Vice-Pres. Secretary, Treasurer, 
Ifislorinn and Registrar, wbo shall be ele- 
cted at the regnlar meeting in Febnary: 
Installation to take place a month follow- 
ing:. 



Section Two (of article four) Trustees 

At the annua] meeting- in February 
lliere shall also be three members at 
larige elected for a term of three years 
(except first two, who shall be elected 
for one, and two years thus having- one 
1o expire and one to elect thereafter) 
these tog'othei* Avitli the officers vshall 
form a board of trustees, who shall have 
power to fill vacancies on tLe board that 
occur between annual meetings, Avith 
other d\ities collective and individually 
that pertain to similiar officers in other 
orci'anizntions. 



ARTICLE FIVE— CUES 

A membership fee of r)Octs. shall ac- 
company application paper; same to be 
refunded if applicant cannot (jualify for 
membership half of fee to go into head- 
quarters. Annual dues of 50 cts. shall 
he paid on or before, date of, and prior 
to , aniiual election of officers under 
penalty of automatic suspension. 

Section Two (of article five) 
Restoration 

I^Jembers n.nder suspension for non- 
payment of dnes are retsored to full 

membership ov. payment of same. 



BY-LAWS 

1 — A majority of votes shall be necessary 
to pass any motion. 

2 — ^The President mjay not vote except in 
case of tie. 

3 — No member is entitled to vote who is 
not in good standing. 
4 — Members may be suspended or ex 
pelled for any conduct unbecoming a 
member of this chapter. Written charg- 
es prefered a month prior to hearing of 
such in regular meeting — copy of same 
having been sent to accused that they 
ma}^ have the benefit of defense. 
5 — Any member under suspension ;foi' 
three years automatically looses mem- 
bership (except for non-payment of 
dues). 

6 — The acceptance or expulsion of any 
miember shall require 3-4 vote of the 
members present. 

7- -The president shall have the right to 
veto any vote of chapter, except the vote 
on membership, 

8 — To pass a vote over the presidents 
veto shall reqire 4-5 vote of members 
present, and notice of such vote shall be 
•given a 7nonth prior to action, unless 
such vote be take^i at the meeting veto 
was exercised. 

0— x\ quorum to transact any business 
shal] consist of the president or vice 
prc-^ideut, the secretary or treasurer and 



five othor mem'bprH. 

10 — All private and public meetings must 
be held in a parlimentary manner and in 
case of dispute Palmers rules shall pre- 
vail. 

11 — All ballots for membership, suspen- 
sion or explsion or the election of offi- 
cers shall be written and cast in secret, 
nor shall any member be questioned re- 
'garding the character of their vote. 
12 — The colors shall be sam-e as used on 
United States Flag. 

18 — Death emblem shall be a gold star. 
13 — Song for chapter-God Save, Keep, 
Hold our Men.'' i 

15 — Name of chapter must be geoj^gra- 
phieal. 

16 — No member may speak on any sub- 
ject more than twice. 
17 — The constitution and by-laws may be 
amended by 3-4 members present, a 
riionths notice having been given. 
18 — Application blank as appended. 

Adopted March 12, 1918. 



APPLICATION BLANK 

To the officers and miembers of 
American Mothers of National Defen- 
ders, Chapter No. 1 located at Union 
Springs, Alabama. 

I, the undersiigned, respeetfnlly pet- 
tion to become a member of the American 
Mothers of National Defenders. I here- 
by certify that T bear the relationship of 

to who is serving", 

or served, in the world wide war as pri- 
vate or officer in the 

if died or discharg-ed, give time of ser- 
vice In making application 

to this chapter I state (1) that T am 
actuated by patriotic motives, (2) that 
I do so in order to aid in carrying ont 
the purpose for which this chapter was 
created (3) that T will cheerfully pay all 
just dues, unless prevented by financial 
inability, (4) thnt T will conform to the 
rules, reg'ulations, constitutions and by- 
laws of this chapter: realizing that har- 
monev is the sten.o'th and sunport of in- 
stitutiojis. esDceially those of a patriotic 
nature T do hereby promise obedience to 
ihQ expressed wish of the majority. 

1 still further promise that T will b*^ 
loval to the constitution of the United 
State^^ and to its laws, that T will endea- 
vor to promote loyalty in this order, in 
mv home and wh ereever T may be; tha"*" 
in time of war T will refi'ain from all 



criticism of my country that might en- 
courage dissatisfaction disloyalty or re- 
sistance to organized authority: and 1 
heartily agre to abide by same. 

Signature of applicant 

Recommended bv 



We, the committee on credentials 
find the above applicant worthy of mem- 
bership in our chapter. 

Rouistrar 



Clipping form The ^lontgomery 
Journal March o, 1918. Montgomery, Ala. 

"WAR MOTHERS ORGANIZED 

IN BULLOCK COUNTY 

Over in Union Sprin.gs, Mrs. A. li. 
Strickland has originated something that 
will strike a responsive cord amon?.^ 
patriotic ])eople-the ''Americ.n Mothers 
of National Defenders". She proposes to 
make of it a national order as far reaching 
in its membership as th'3 J^aughters of 
tlie American R.evoluti(»ii. Union S))vings. 
Itei' JKim.e citv, has "f'si)f>nded Avith a 
charter membership of tiurty and inter- 
est and appreciation that promises more 
members drawn from (:m:0ng' the mothers 
siters and wives of soldiers. The idea 
wliich orignated in that sympa^lieiic co;n- 



mnnity of Alabama, out of the abun.iaiice 
of love and patritosm which exists there 
has been commended widely and pro- 
mises to be adopted thromghout America. 
An organizer is expected also to take up 
the work in Montgomery within a few 
days. 

Already the mother chapter has re- 
ceived encouraging commendation from 
many quarters. Governor Henderson 
showed his approval in a letter to the 
author of the chapter in which he ex- 
pressed the opinion that the organization 
will be an appropriate banding to-gether 
of these who have the deepest of sympa- 
thetic feeling between them. 

Women who have sent their men to 
the front. Other prominent men who 
favor the stimulation of patriotic ideals 
have been as enthusiastic in their appro- 
val of an organization of this character 



Governor Henderson's let+er, express- ] 
ing his opnion of the plan was as follows: ! 

Montgomery, Ala., Feb. 15, 1918. 
Mrs. A. H. Strickland, ] 

Union Springs, Ala., - 

Dear Mrs. Strickland: ! 

1 am in receipt of 3^0 urs of the 15tli 
advising me of an organization origina- 
ed and formed at Union Springs, which i 
you wish to make nation Avide. I see i 
nothirjg in this organization that ' 
wonld conflict with any of the war ac- ' 
tivities that have been heretofore launch- i 
ed or likeh' to be organized hereafter. I \ 
can, however, see much bentfit to be de- ' 
rived from an association of those who i 
liave sent their husbands and sons to the ' 
front to defend what is dearest to man- ; 
kind-home and country. Theie is more 
of a sym^)atlxetic feeling between those i 
Avho have sons and hvisbands at the front 1 
than can be brought about in any other- i 
way, and it appears to me that banding ; 
to-gether the women of the country who 
are making this sacrifice will stregthen \ 
patriotism and create a stronger desire • 
for service. The proposed organization < 
has my approval and believe it can easily , 
be made state wide. ; 

Yours very truly, \ 

Chas. Henderson, Governor. ; 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 

■n 

021 545 742 4 



